Saturday, February 16, 2008

Is there an ideal family size?

While 10 kids might sound overwhelming -- or even terrifying -- to most people, it is part of everyday life for Val Jackson of Paw Paw. Jackson and her husband are raising two biological and eight adopted children who range in age from early teens to early 30s. . . .For many people, family doesn't include children. Intentionally remaining childless as a couple or a single person works for many people. The Childless by Choice Project surveyed 171 voluntarily childless individuals and couples in the United States and Canada to find out their main motivators. The No. 1 reason: ``I love our life, our relationship as it is, and having a child won't enhance it.'' Other motivators, such as lifestyle and economics, also play a role.

How did you choose your family size? Or did you leave the number of children to fate? Sound off at www.mlive.com/familytalk. And while you're at it, find others who feel the same way -- or who made very different decisions.